Friction clutch mechanism.



No. 827,382.. 1 PATLNTLD JULY si, 1906.

' T. s; MILLER. L-

FRIGTION CLUTCH MLGHANISM.

- APPLIoATioN HLL'D 11u14'. 190s. l

` 2 sHLETs-SHLET 1.

Nm 827,382. PATENTED JULY 31, 1906.

\ ilus. MILLER. l

" PRIGlTIoN CLUTCH. MEGHANISM.

APKPLIUATION upm) 11m14.190s'.

I lz SHEETS-SHEET 2.

AUNITED STATES PATENT OEEIOE.

THOMAS SPENCER MILLER, OE SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

l l FRICTION CLUTCH MECHANISM. l

Patented July si, isos.

Application filed iMay 14, 1908. Serial No. 157,107. Y i

To` a/Zwhom, it may concern: l Be it known that I, THOMAS SPENCER A MILLER, a' citizenoi' the United States, and a is journaled.

resident of South Orange, Essex county,New Jersey, have invented anew and useful lmprovement in Friction Clutch Mechanism, of

which the following is a speciiication.

- from anysuitable source of` power and xed upon the shaft, and inI Fig. 4, 6EL is a pulley revolubly mounted upon the shaft 5a;

7 is the driven member oi' theclutch mechanism, which in Fig. 1 is the rope-drum revollubly mounted upon the shaft,"and in Fig. 4,

7 is the disk revolubly iked to the shaft by ,the spline 8.

9 is the friction-ring, Which-mag. i is Secured `to the face ofthe driving member.l In Fig. 4, 93L is the friction-ring secured to the face of the drien member'and which consists,

-prefer'ably,`of' sections of wood. 10 is the flange on thevopposite member, cooperating `with the friction-ring, as shown in Fig. 1, and

' -.such coperating flange is designated` by'lQa v -by t balance of lpower as between'the spring 151y lsthe coil-spring interposed between the two members and tending to force the fric tion-surfaces apart. 12 is a more powerful -s ring, whichwhen unrestrained overcomes t e s ringl 11 and forces"thefrictiomsuriaces togeter., f. r ring-restraining .mechamsmis providedl e action of which upon thespring 12 the 12 and its counter-spring 11 is so controlled as tov setor unset t e rictionsurfaces I forms in the i yaccompanying drawings, of

The Shanks of the@ which the'fform shown in'Figs. 1, d2, andy 3 may be described as follows: 13 an 14 are a pair of annular ldisks surroundlng the shaft and connected together by the bolts 15 and ,16, screw-threaded to one or bothv of them.

This .spring-restraining mechanismis shown in two boltsA project into the' iframe 2., by whichthey are held inpositionA with freedom oi rotation and longitudinal reciprocation. The heads of these ,bolts carry the arms 17 and 18, connected bythe link 19, and one of these arms carries the, handle 20, by which the operator may give the'vbolts 15 andv 16 a partial rotation ineither direction, forcing together orA separating the disksl and 14.` The` disks 13 and 14 restrain the spring *12 through the following mechanism: The spring 12 abuts` at opposite ends against the disk 21 andthe crown of the capv22, which carries the flan e 23. `The disk 2.1' and ilange' 23 are pinche together bythe'fdisks' 13 and 14, acting throughthefantirictionywashers-'24 and 25. 1 The disk 21 bears against the washer 26, whichbearsagainst the cross-key27, which bears against the central pin 28, whichibears against the crossLk'ey 29, which bears against the disk 30, which bears a ainst thefend of the drum 7. 31 is a hand-w leel screw-threaded on the end oifzthe shaft 5, and 32 anotherhand-wheelscrewthreaded thereon to act as ajam-nutl The wheel 31 bears against the crown of the cap 22 in opposition to the spring 12,l and there'- fore acts as an adjusta e abutment on the shaft for the spring. when the adjustment-of the disks 13 and 14 It is nowe'vident that is not such as to restrain the spring 1 2 the 1 power of that s ring will be exerted through the train of mec amsm described toforce t e drum 5 toward the Spur-wheel 6, compress the counter-spring 11, and set the -irictionl surfaces; but this train of mechanism may be partially or'wholly relievedfrom the power of the spring 12 by the movement of the disks 13 and 14 so as to pinch the spring 12, and thus permitthe counter-spring 11 to unset the frictionssurfaces by forcing the ldrum 7 away from the spur-Wheel 6. Since the pinching of the sprin 12 is accomplished between the disk 21 an cap 22, its pressure is partially or wholly removed not merely from the train of mechanism before; referred to, but

. also from the hand-wheel 31, sofas to reduce or eliminate the ressure due to the backward thrust as wel as' the forward thrust of the spring '12 between those parts which ro-.

IOO

tate with the shaft and those whichare stationary with the disks 13 and 1.4, thus sub- -stantially eliminating the friction, which has been the source ofso much diifiicultyin past constructions. When the ysprm 12 1s unrestrained, it and the disk 21 an cap 22 will vrotate the shaft; but when itis re- IIO strained it and the disk 21 and cap 22 may remain stationary.

In the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the annular disks 13 and 14, which correspond in function and mode of operation with the disks 13 and 14, are supported by the pivoted arms 33 and 34.' They are urged apart bythe interposed spiral spring 35 but the operator may draw them together by turning the screw-threaded bolt 36 through the handchain 37. In the construction shown in Figs. 4 land 5 the spring 12a abuts at opposite ends against the crowns ofthe caps 38 and 39, carrying, respectively, the flanges 40 and 41. The disk 14EL is secured by pivots 42, diametrically opposite each other, to the annular disk 43, so that the flanges 40 and 41 are pinched together between the disk 13a and the disk 43. Suflicient space is left between the peripheries of the caps 3S and 39 and the disks 13a and 14a to permit freedom of movement without contact, and the flange 44 may be provided to limit the movement of the disk 13a in that direction. 45 and 46 are jam-nuts threaded or otherwise adjustabl y liXed to the shaft 5a, and therefore acting as an adjustable'rear abutment for the spring 12a. In the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, when the spring 12"* is pinched by the restraining mechanism the pressure of both its forward and backward thrust is relieved at the points of contact between the rotating and non-rotating parts. W'hen the spring 12a is unrestrained, it and the caps 38 and 39 will rotate with the shaft; but when the spring is restrained it and said caps may remain stationary with the disks 13a and 14u. The power of the' spring 12fL when unrestrained is transmitted through the hub of the clutch member 7a to compress the counter-spring 11a and set the frictionsurfaces.

It will be observed that in both forms of construction above described the power of the master-spring 12 or 12a, tending to lset the clutch by its superiority to that of the counter or subordinate spring 1.1 or 11a, is restrained by a mechanism both members of which (e. g., the members 13 and 14 or 13a and 14) are pinched together independently of the rotating parts, and therefore when the master-spring is restrained the rotating parts are partially or wholly relieved of its pressure.

The abutments which receive the back thrusts of the two springs are fixed to the shaft, so that the strain of this thrustis borne by the shaft itself and not by the bearings of the shaft. Thus in the construction shown in Fig. 1 the shoulder 47 lis one of these abutments and the hand-wheel 31 is the other, while in Fig. 4 the nut 45 is one of these abutments and the disk 48, fixed to the shaft, is the other. The adjustability of the distance between these two abutments regulates the maximum extent to which the clutch may be set by the operation of the master-spring-restraining mechanism.

I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction shown, because various modifi cations will suggest themselves without departing from the principle of my invention, one feature ofwhich principle consists, for example, in the capacity for eliminating the losses due to end thrust of the set spring while the clutch is unset,

Having thus described my invention, I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In combination with the driving and driven members of a clutch, a master-spring tending to set the clutch, a subordinate spring tending to unset the same and pinching mechanism whereby the master-spring is restrained independently of the rotating parts.

2. In combination with the driving and driven members of a clutch, a master-spring tending to set the clutch, a subordinate spring tending to unset the same, means of adjustment for the abutment of one of said springs and a pinching mechanism whereby the master-spring is restrained independently of the rotating parts.

3. In combination, a shaft, the driving and driven members of. a clutch mounted on said shaft, two springs tending, respectively, to set and unset said clutch and pinching mechanism whereby one of said springs is restrained independently of the rotating parts.

4. In combination, a shaft, the driving and driven members of a clutch mounted thereon, a master-spring tending to set the clutch, a subordinate spring tending to unset the same, abutments secured to the shaft for the backward thrust of each of said springs, means whereby the distance between said abutments maybe adjusted and a pinching mechanism whereby the master-spring is restrained independently of the rotating parts.

5. In combination with the driving and driven members of a clutch, a mastenspring tending to set the clutch, a subordinate spring tending to unset the same and pinching mechanism containing two members mounted independently of the rotating parts whereby the master-spring is restrained.

6. In combination with the drivin-0' and I driven members of a clutch, a spring o' r( tively less power than the clutch-setting spring, adapted to unset the clutch, a spring tending to set the clutch and pinching mechanism mounted independently of the rotating parts whereby the clutch-setting spring is restrained.

7. In combination with the driving and driven members of a clutch, a s ring of relatively less power than the e etch-setting spring tending to unset the clutch, a spring tending to set the clutch and pinching mechanism containing two inverselywperating ICO members bothof which are` movable in such manner as to relieve the pressure, of theclutch-settin spring at both ends.

8. In com ination with the driving ,and driven members of a clutch, a master-s ring tending to set the clutch, a subor inate spring tending to unset the same and inching mechanism containing two inverse y-o eratin members both oi which are movab e in suc manner as torelieve the pressure .at both ends of the master-spring. 1

9. In combination, a shaft, the driving and` driven members of a clutch mounted thereon, an abutment', a.master-spring'interposed between said abutment Vand one 'of said clutch members,v a subordinate spring interposed between said clutch mechanism and a pinching mechanism IWhereb the pressure of said master-springis relieve both from said abutment and said clutch member. l 4

,10, In combination, al shaft, 'the driving and driven members of a clutchy mounted thereon, anjabutment,` a spring' coiled around the shaft between said abutment and one of said clutch members and a pinching mechanism'operatin -to reduce the pressure of the spring at bot ends.

11.k In combination, a shaft, its bearings, a

. friction-drum mounted upon said shaft between said bearings, a friction-setting thrust melber extending from said vdrum through one of said bearings, a spring located beyond i Said bearing for actuating said thrust vmemj ber and a pinching mechanism whereby said thrust member mayberelieved from the pressure of said spring.,l

12. In combination, a shaft, its bearings, a

' friction-drum mounted upon said'shaftbetween said bearings, a friction-setting thrust member -extending from said drum through one of said bearings, a spring located beyond said bearing for actuating said'thrust member and api'nching mechanism whereby said when vactuating said thrust member;

13. In combination, a shaft 5, the frames 1 and 2 in which it has its bearings, the frictiondrum 7 upon said-shaft between said iframes,

the thrust member 28 whereby the Jfriction is shaft andY a thrust actuating mechanism interposed between said abutment and vsaid cross-pin'.

15. .In combination, a shaft, a frame containing a bearing for the same, a rope-drummounted upon said shaft on'one side of said bearing, an abutment on saidshaft on the opposite side of said bearing and the followin set and which extends through said frame 2, a pinching mechanism mounted outside of thrust mechanism interposed between lsai abutment and said rope-drum, viz: two` cross-pins extending throughl the shaft on opposite sides of said bearing, athrustin interposed between' lsaid cross-pins an of said bearing). h, A 16. In com inatiofhl-` the driving and driven members of a clutchfneans tending to unset the clutch, means of relatively greater power than4 the clutch-unsetting mean s, adapted to set `the clutch, 'and mechanism for nulliying the eect 'of the excessive a" v thrust mechanisminterposed between said i abutment and said`crosspinon the outside f;

power ofthe clutch-setting means, to permit .l v

the clutch tobe unset by the unsetting means.

17. In combination with the 'driving'and driven members of a'clutch, a spring tending to unset the clutch, ga, VSpring of relatively greater power normally tending to overcome the "tension of the clutch-unsetting spring and set the clutch, and mechanism for nullifying they .excessive power of the settings rin l t .PIngtestimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses, l i

y THOMAS SPENCER MILLER.l Witnesses:

CHAs. C. PIERCE, CEAS. G. MUNIER 

